Sock Summit

Wow... I just found out about this and I'm so excited. Is anyone else planning to attend? It is around my daughters birthday but I'm seriously considering going. I can't wait! Visit their website at www.socksummit.com. Would be a blast to take the train down.

Back from vacation...

Well... we are back from vacation and came home to rain, what's new right? The weather in Arizona wasn't very good so no pool side knitting for me, the kids did get to swim several days though. I did however get a chance to cast-on again for my hooded vest while on the airplane. I just finished it this week and I LOVE it. I still have to block it which is my biggest downfall right now. I still have two other projects waiting to be blocked. I know that my knitting looks better after doing it but it is so hard for me force myself to do it. I hope I'm not the only one who procrastinates when it comes to blocking... it is the second worst thing about knitting for me, the first is seaming. I love it once it is all done but I have to kick myself in the butt to get it done.

I also started a pair of socks from the mini mochi yarn. I love the colorway but I'm afraid I made the wrong size, it seems very big. I may have to rip and start over on a smaller size. I did continue to work on the a scarf made with sugar cane yarn. I really love this yarn but I'm not sure about the pattern I chose. The pattern has a 10 stitch cable and I'm still trying to decide if I like it enough to continue. I had a lot of leftover yarn from my vest (Cascade Eco+) so I started another scarf called A Scarf Askew. I'm really liking the pattern but get so frustrated every time my knitting curls on the ends... which means MORE blocking!!

Purple Vest: Knitting Pure & Simple's bulky hooded vest for women made with Cascade Eco+ wool in Wisteria (http://www.knittingpureandsimple.com/)

Sugarcane Scarf: Allegra's Scarf made with yarn from sugarcane by Araucania Ruca in Tonal (http://www.sundayknits.com/)

Purple Scarf: A Scarf Askew (http://eeknits.blogspot.com/2007/11/better-late-than-never.html) in Cascade Eco+ Wisteria

It's Vacation Time...

We are off to Arizona for some R & R while hubby stays home and works on the house. I'm keeping my fingers crossed the house will be spic & span when we get home (lol). Projects I am taking with me are a pair of socks from my Little Box Of Socks book made in the mini mochi, love the colors so far. And, the other purple vest that I frogged last week I plan on starting again. Hopefully my plastic needles will pass through security OK so that I can get some knitting in while sitting by the pool. I hope you all have a wonderfull week and I'll post pictures of my projects when I get home.

Time for champagne...

OMG(osh)... I finished my custom knit sweater (for the second time) and it fits and she LOVES it. I'm so happy I could cry! Really... I'm just happy to be done with it and I'm very happy she likes it. Now on to better things!

Today I'm starting a scarf with yarn made from sugarcane. Yes, you heard right, sugarcane. It is Araucania Ruca and so far I am really loving it. I'm making Allegra's Scarf from http://www.ravelry.com/, of course it's another free pattern, gotta love that free stuff considering what we pay for yarn. The yarn has a really nice sheen to it and comes in some fun colors. I'll post some photos as soon as I get a little further into it. It is knit on a size 4 needle and has some cabling, a 10 stitch cable which should be interesting. Never done that one before. I can't wait to see how this yarn knits up and how the pattern turns out. Stay tuned...

Frog time...

Last night my husband thought I was NUTS (so what's new right?)... I had to rip out all the work I had done on my purple vest. I messesd up and left some increase rows out. Then when I took it off the needles to rip it back I decided it was too big anyway. I guess I should have taken my own measurements before I started. So... it's back to the beginning for me. But I'm having the urge to start something different now. Guess I should go hit the books.

For those of you who know Lisa Ellis, http://www.lisaellisdesigns.com/, her patterns and samples will be at the sewing expo at the Puyallyp Fairgrounds from Feb. 26-March 1. Look for the Fibers, Etc. booth. If you haven't heard of her make sure to stop by the booth or check out her website, she is an awesome designer and has wonderful patterns. I've made several of her designs and I love them.

Finishing projects...

Well... I decided really quick to suck it up and get this custom sweater done this week. The back and both sleeves are now done and the front is started. No more mistakes! I did however have to take a Super Bowl break on Sunday and finish up some lingering projects. I completed the Girly-Girls Wristers and the Turn A Square Hat. I really liked both.

The wristers were a lot of fun to make, the pattern can be found on http://www.ravelry.com/ under LaLa Knits. I used Cascade 220 superwash since they are for a teenager. I love the pattern even with black yarn, a lighter yarn would really bring it out more. I also love the picot bind-off but you can use a regular bind-off if you prefer. The magic loop technique is used, which I also prefer and I learned to knit flat to make the thumb hole (had never done that before). All around it was a fun, easy pattern and I plan to make more for gifts.

The Turn A Square Hat was an adventure. The pattern is from Brooklyn Tweed also on Ravelry. I used the Cascade 220 tweed along with Noro Kureyon for the stripes. It didn't take a lot of Noro and I have enough of both yarns to make another one. This hat was fairly easy, I just had to get used to carrying yarn in the round (I was out of practice). I don't have that down yet but I fudged my way through and it turned out great. I tried the "jogless" method when switching yarn that was mentioned in the pattern but for some reason it sure didn't look the same as the picture. Guess I have to work on that one. Knock me on the head... when Lisa showed me this pattern I was wondering where the name came from, you couldn't really tell from the picture on the pattern. But, once it was done and I looked at it from the top down it hit me... what an idiot. It's really cool how the stripe pattern is square. I love it and wished that I was a "hat person" so I could keep it myself. I look pretty scary in a hat and that's not exaggerating... Now I just need to make some gloves to match and it's ready to go!